Annual Report 2016-17

11 Overview of the Commission Successful balance between accountability and independence For three decades, the Commission has successfully balanced the need for judicial accountability with the preservation of judicial independence. An institutionalised process for examining complaints provides an independent and robust assessment of complaints against judicial officers. While the Commission has examined more complaints this year, 96% of complaints were summarily dismissed after the Commission’s independent preliminary examination, higher than the five-year summary dismissal rate of 93%. Online training on cultural diversity launched An online training program for judicial officers, which provides information about cultural diversity, was launched in July this year. The program is comprised of nine modules accessible from the Judicial Council on Cultural Diversity’s website. To raise judicial awareness of the training program, the Chair of the Judicial Council on Cultural Diversity, the Honourable Chief Justice of Western Australia, Wayne Martin AC, published an article in the Judicial Officers’ Bulletin emphasising the Council of Chief Justice’s commitment to assisting people overcome language and cultural barriers in court. Engaging with overseas judiciaries and organisations An important feature of the Commission’s role is to engage with judiciaries and judicial education and support bodies overseas. For many years, the Commission has provided advice and support to countries in the Asia-Pacific region as an important but often understated way of promoting the rule of law. This year, the Commission signed a new memorandum of understanding with the Magisterial Services of Papua New Guinea to provide professional development and judicial training for PNG magistrates and assisted the Papua New Guinea Centre for Judicial Excellence with their magistrate’s orientation program. Looking forward Looking forward, the Commission aims to launch a revised strategic plan for the Ngara Yura Program, which has provided valuable Aboriginal cultural awareness for judicial officers for the last 25 years. Over this time, there has been a significant increase in the number of Aboriginal employees and lawyers within the justice system. As such, it is an ideal time to revisit and refresh the Ngara Yura Program strategy to increase our focus on offering practical ways to assist Aboriginal communities. The Commission’s statutory remit has not changed in 30 years, however, technology has significantly altered the way the Commission can deliver its programs and information. The Commission hopes to embrace the opportunities brought about by innovative technology through the development of webinars and automated interactive learning where users can design their own programs. My thanks and appreciation The Commission’s continued achievements are only possible due to the hard work and dedication of its staff. My particular thanks and appreciation go to Ernest Schmatt PSM, the Chief Executive, Murali Sagi PSM, the Deputy Chief Executive, Hugh Donnelly, Director, Research and Sentencing, and Una Doyle, Director, Education. I also extend my thanks to all of the judicial officers who contributed their time and energies to the Commission’s work and the Commission’s staff. It is as a result of their efforts that I am able to congratulate the Commission on yet another year of success. The Honourable TF Bathurst AC Chief Justice of NSW President, Judicial Commission of NSW